Supported by its own specifically conducted research
with 2909 patients from 10 patient groups, the International
Adhesions Society (IAS) today submitted recommendations
in response to FDA proposals to limit the the way opioids
are approved. The data, representing over 25 million
Americans with chronic pelvic, abdominal or spinal
pain due in part to adhesions, endometriosis, interstitial
cystitis, irritable bowel syndrome and hysterectomy
complications, demonstrate the significant number of
patients (92.4%) whose opioid requirements would fall
outside of the proposed limits and whose access to
opioids would be compromised. Chronic Pain Patients,
Concerned About National Cold Turkey, Submit Own Data
Challenging FDA’s Proposed Opioid Policy

Supported by its own specifically conducted research
with 2909 patients from 10 patient groups, the International
Adhesions Society (IAS) today submitted recommendations
in response to FDA proposals to limit the the way
opioids are approved. The data, representing over
25 million
Americans with chronic pelvic, abdominal or spinal
pain due in part to adhesions, endometriosis, interstitial
cystitis, irritable bowel syndrome and hysterectomy
complications, demonstrate the significant number
of patients (92.4%) whose opioid requirements would
fall
outside of the proposed limits and whose access to
opioids would be compromised.

If any of you are concerned that Dr. E stole the name
CAPPS, fear not, as Dr. E was kind enough to call me
first!

April 4th The Interstitial Cystitis Association (ICA)
invites you to attend a free webinar entitled IC's Role
in CAPPS on April 4, 2013 at 6:30 PM ET.

To register for the event, click the link below.

What is CAPPS?
Short for Complex Abdominal-Pelvic Pain Syndrome,
CAPPS is a syndrome of nonmalignant origin consisting
of a complex of abdominal and pelvic symptoms that
includes a variety of painful bowel, bladder, genital,
reproductive, muscular and nerve dysfunctions lasting
at least 3-6 months in duration.

Have a question for Dr. Echenberg? When registering
for the webinar, you have the ability to enter a question
you may have regarding IC and CAPPS. Dr. Echenberg
will answer these questions during the webinar

Make your voice heard and influence FDA policy on
pain relief by completing this survey conducted
by the International
Adhesions Society and proudly supported by KevMed,
LLC.
Opioids (narcotic drugs related to morphine - hydrocodone,
oxycodone, heroin, tramadol, etc.) contribute to
about 75% of all deaths due to prescription drugs,
in turn
accounting for 58% of all drug-related deaths.
Although US opioid sales are estimated to be $9
billion, societal
costs of opioid abuse, misuse, addiction and overdose
are estimated at $56 billion.

Concerned about these statistics, FDA is inviting
comment about proposals to limit the types of pain,
doses and
length of treatment for which opioids are approved.
The proposals, if implemented could limit legitimate
access to opioids by patients with chronic pain.

Arguments on both sides have been submitted, but
ACTUAL data (as opposed to speculation) supporting
either
position are sparse. ACTUAL data makes a difference
to policy makers and so we are conducting this
survey to provide FDA with ACTUAL data on opioid
use in
patients with chronic pain, especially pelvic & abdominal
pain due to adhesions, ARD, CAPPS, interstitial cystitis,
IBS, pudendal neuralgia, endometriosis, and hysterectomy
complications. Patients with other types of chronic
pain are most welcome to participate in this important
effort. Due to submission deadlines this survey will
run only for a short period.

In addition to asking about your pain and use of
analgesics, the survey will solicit your opinion
on a draft statement
that we intend to submit to FDA. The statement will
outline our results and recommendations for a comprehensive
drug policy that is able to reduce abuse and misuse
while still allowing chronic pain patients to obtain
effective relief from opioids, and more importantly,
facilitate access to safer and effective alternatives.
Given the high public profile of this topic, our
statement will provide a platform for us to raise
awareness about
adhesions, endometriosis, IC, IBS, CPP and related
conditions. It will showcase the achievements of
the IAS made possible by your participation in our
work,
including, relevant to this subject, our research
on PainShield® MD, a portable, wearable, therapeutic
ultrasound device that provides novel and effective
treatment for pain. PainShield MD requires no surgery
or drugs and may allow patients to reduce or avoid
opioids as well as surgical procedures such as hysterectomy
or adhesiolysis.

No one wants to take any drugs, much less opioids
which play havoc on bowel function, but until there
is widespread
use of alternatives such as PainShield MD we must
ensure access of chronic pain patients to opioids.
We certainly
want to see safer prescribing habits, but we do not
believe the current FDA proposals will accomplish
that. Our statement will also encourage comprehensive
polices
on pain itself, the prevention of its root causes
(which includes adhesions) and the streamlining
of the approval
for marketing and reimbursement of new pain-relieving
products.

If this link does not display as a clickable link,
please copy and paste the following link into a new
browser window.
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/OpioidsChronicPainFDA

To participate in this survey you will need to be
at least 18 years of age, to live in the USA and
currently
suffer from ANY type of chronic pain that is NOT
related to cancer.

If you do not meet these criteria, we thank you
for your interest and look forward to including
your
thoughts on future surveys.
Whether or not you participate, we thank you
for your support of the International Adhesions
Society.
Please
visit our web site - www.adhesions.org, "Like" us
on facebook and follow us on Twitter (AdhesionsOrg).

Please also check out and tell your friends about
PainShield MD, which we have found to reduce painful
bowel, bladder,
genital, musculoskeletal and other symptoms associated
with ARD, adhesions, CAPPS, endometriosis, IC and
IBS. PainShieldMD is being sold through KevMed - www.kevmed.com
- a company we set up as a result of IAS research
and whose profits we hope eventually will fund
the IAS
as well as further advances in the alleviation of
suffering by not only adhesions patients, but all
patients suffering
with chronic pain.

To help you take charge of your pain we have designed
a free Pain Diary that will help you track your condition
and effectively communicate with your doctor leaving
more time to plan and implement effective treatment.
You can download this by clicking
here.

This is important. On behalf of all pain sufferers,
we must make our voice heard.

A complimentary, downloadable, comprehensive pain
diary, designed for patients suffering from
chronic pelvic pain, Interstitial Cystitis (IC), Endometriosis
and Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) has been released by KevMed, a company dedicated
to the relief of these conditions

The KevMed
Pelvic Pain Diary can be downloaded free
of charge after registration at:
http://www.kevmed.com/PainDiary.html

The KevMed Pelvic Pain Diary represents an important
advance in empowering patients by allowing
them to monitor and take charge of their condition,
and helping them to communicate efficiently,
effectively and knowledgeably with medical providers;
the diary will help to save time
in the doctor’s office by presenting a clear
picture of the patients’ progress, leaving more time for the doctor and patient to plan future treatment.

Dallas, TX (PRWEB) December 31, 2012 -- A new, comprehensive,
downloadable and free pelvic pain diary
has recently been developed and released by KevMed™,
a company dedicated to the relief of chronic pelvic
pain and related conditions. The 5-page diary is available
as a downloadable tool free of charge.

Unlike other pain inventories, this new diary has
been designed specifically for the 15 million patients
suffering from a number of
overlapping disorders which also includes abdominal
pain, Adhesion Related Disorder (ARD),
CAPPS, endometriosis, vulvodynia, dyspareunia, dyschezia,
sacroiliac joint pain, pudendal neuralgia and pelvic floor dysfunction. Many of these disorders
are common in patients who have undergone
hysterectomy. Rather than taking a single snap-shot
of the pain, this new tool will help patients track
their progress over time,
especially as it relates to the effectiveness of pain
therapies and devices, such as PainShield® MD,
a wearable therapeutic ultrasound device marketed by
KevMed as a non-invasive, low-risk treatment modality for chronic pelvic pain and pain
associated with related conditions.

The KevMed Pelvic Pain Diary is the most comprehensive
tool available for this condition today. It can help patients
obtain a thorough assessment of their condition, talk
more effectively with their medical providers, describe
more efficiently the type and location of their pain,
and give a more detailed response to questions
of which pain treatments worked and which did not.

“We are excited to make this tool available
to those patients who suffer from often unbearable
pain as well as
the doctors and other professionals who treat them.
Patients and doctors both understand that managing
chronic
pelvic pain is difficult enough without having to describe
and track the condition. The Kevmed Pelvic Pain Diary
will reduce the time needed for a doctor to assess
a patient’s condition, leaving more time to plan
and implement treatment. The
diary will empower patients to take charge of their
condition, and allow them to partner more effectively with the providers who are
caring for them,” says David Wiseman, PhD, Founder
and
CEO of KevMed.

Pain diaries and assessment tools for a number of
conditions have evolved over many years with the work
of
the International Pelvic Pain Society and the Vulval
Pain Society contributing greatly to this field. Building
on
this strong foundation, the KevMed Pelvic Pain Diary
is the result of a collaboration with the International
Adhesions Society (IAS), also founded by Dr. Wiseman,
which provides information, support, and advocacy to
patients and their families suffering from ARD and
Complex Abdominal & Pelvic Pain Syndrome (CAPPS).
Pioneering patient-centered research conducted by the
International Adhesions Society (IAS) has led not only
to new understandings of these conditions, but also
new understandings on how to assess them and to track
their progress. This knowledge was applied in developing
the KevMed Pelvic Pain Diary.

The diary includes modules on bladder, bowel, abdominal,
musculoskeletal and genital pain. It can be used by
men and women and allows documentation of pain that
is or is not related to periods (menstruation). There
are
also modules to document sleep, often affected adversely
by pain, general daily activities and drug or other
treatment.

Notes Dr. Wiseman, “Our diary is a work in progress
and we invite comments and suggestions on how we can
improve this for both patients and medical providers.
We hope in the future to produce print versions as
well as
mobile and online versions that are HIPAA compliant
and that can be shared with providers. We hope also
to
expand the diary to include more detailed sections
for conditions such as fibromyalgia, temporomandibular
joint (TMJ) disorders (TMD) and reflex sympathetic
dystrophy (RSD) or complex regional pain syndrome
(CRPS).”

______________________________
About KevMed
Founded by David Wiseman, PhD, in 2012, KevMed LLC
is a medical device company dedicated to the relief
of chronic pelvic pain and related disorders. KevMed
markets PainShield® MD, a wearable therapeutic
ultrasound device as a non-invasive, low-risk treatment
modality for chronic pelvic pain and pain associated
with related conditions. KevMed, LLC was born from
the work of the International Adhesions Society (IAS),
which provides information, support, and advocacy to
patients and their families suffering from Adhesion
Related Disorder (ARD) and Complex Abdominal and Pelvic
Pain Syndrome (CAPPS).

Treatment
for Chronic Pelvic Pain Saved From Possible Extinction
after Agreement to Revise Government Report: Hopes
International Adhesions
Society

Chronic pelvic pain patients should continue to have
available an important treatment option– adhesiolysis – after
the International
Adhesions Society (IAS) recently
obtained an agreement with
the authors of a government-sponsored report to revise
its language which may otherwise lead to the denial of adhesiolysis and even laparoscopy
as treatment options.

In its own analysis published today, the IAS highlights
statistical and other flaws not considered by the government-sponsored report which
may leave a patient or surgeon with the
mistaken impression that adhesiolysis does not benefit
chronic pelvic pain and should not be performed at all.

Dallas, TX (PRWEB) December 03, 2012 -- The International
Adhesions Society (IAS) published today its
analysisof sections of a government-sponsored report
on chronic pelvic pain regarding the effectiveness
of
adhesiolysis, a surgical procedure often used to
treat pelvic pain. The IAS analysis includes details
of an
agreement from the authors of the report to revise
its language.
“
Since this type of report is used by payers and other
policy makers,” notes Dr. David Wiseman, Founder
of the
IAS, “the over-reliance on what we believe to
be a flawed study may result in the denial of insurance
coverage
and therapeutic options for over 400,000 American
patients in whom adhesiolysis is performed annually.”
Adhesiolysis is a surgical procedure in which adhesions,
abnormal connections between organs that form
mostly because of disease or previous surgery,
are cut.
The report, authored by Dr. Jeff Andrews and his
team at the Vanderbilt Evidence-based Practice
Center was
commissioned by the Agency for Healthcare Research
and Quality (AHRQ), of the Department of Health &
Human Services, and evaluated the effectiveness
of various therapies for female chronic pelvic
pain.
For
adhesiolysis, the team relied on a Dutch study
(Swank et al., 2003) which concluded that although
laparoscopic
adhesiolysis relieves chronic abdominal pain, it
could not be recommended to treat chronic abdominal
pain
because it was not more beneficial than laparoscopy
alone.

The IAS in collegial correspondence with Dr. Andrews,
highlighted statistical and other flaws in the
Dutch
study which challenge its conclusions as well
as the degree of reliance attached to that study. “Dr.
Andrews has
agreed to revise the report’s language” says
Dr. Wiseman, “although budget cuts may delay
this revision.”
“
The Dutch study has provided important insights into
the relationship between adhesions and pain,” comments
Dr. Wiseman, “and our analysis has found enough
evidence to warrant more definitive research on the
benefit
of adhesiolysis in chronic pelvic or abdominal
pain. However, its inclusion in a forum for the
formulation
of health policy is premature.”

The IAS otherwise praised the Vanderbilt report
in raising awareness about chronic pelvic pain
and in
demonstrating the importance now attached by
the US Government to this major health problem
affecting
over
15 million Americans.

Clinical efficacy data for PainShield, a new wearable
ultrasound device, showed a significant reduction in
pelvic pain and related symptoms in patients with long-standing,
difficult to treat chronic pelvic pain. Over 15 million
patients in the U.S. suffer from chronic pelvic pain
with very few effective treatment options currently
available. The PainShield device promises to be a non-invasive,
drug-free alternative for pain management in patients
who suffer from debilitating pelvic pain.

In a poster presentation at the International Pelvic
Pain Society Annual Meeting in Chicago (Oct. 18-21,
2012), clinical efficacy data on a new therapeutic
ultrasound device, PainShield®, revealed promising
result for millions of pelvic pain and interstitial
cystitis sufferers in the United States.

Nineteen patients suffering from long standing and
unrelieved pelvic, urological or related pain participated
in the study, which found significant reductions in
pelvic pain, bladder pain, pain on urination (dysuria),
pain on defecation (dyschezia), abdominal bloating
and muscle or joint pain related to their condition.
Reductions in urinary urgency and frequency, difficulty
urinating, sacro-iliac joint pain, painful intercourse
(dyspareunia), rectal pain, and sitting intolerance
were also noted and expected to show statistical significance
in a larger study.

Over half of the trial participants rated their response
to the treatment with PainShield as “good”,
with only two participants rating their response as
negative. Based on these positive findings, further
study of PainShield as a treatment alternative to drugs
and surgery is clearly warranted. Five months after
starting treatment with the PainShield device, Michelle
Brown, a 45-year old mother of two, who has been suffering
from debilitating pelvic pain for more than a decade,
reported that “I have come off all my pain medications,
which used to cost me between $300 and $1000 per month.” Ms.
Brown added “I feel great! I haven’t felt
this good in 15 years.”

The PainShield clinical study resulted from a grassroots
effort under the leadership of a patient advocacy organization,
the International Adhesions Society (IAS), which provides
information, support and advocacy to patients and their
families suffering from adhesion related disorder (ARD)
and Complex Abdominal and Pelvic Pain Syndrome (CAPPS).
The study follows other innovative research conducted
by the International Adhesions Society, which has led
to more patient-centered insights into this poorly
understood medical condition and to the founding of
the world’s first dedicated clinic for the treatment
of adhesions and Complex Abdominal and Pelvic Pain
Syndrome (CAPPS). The PainShield study is an example
of what a patient advocacy group can accomplish with
few resources other than patients seeking answers working
closely with a leader in the field, in this case David
Wiseman, PhD, MRPharmS, the founder of the IAS. Authoring
the study together with Dr. Wiseman was Ms. Teena Petree,
PT of Summit Physical Therapy, Dallas, TX, whose specialties
include pelvic floor dysfunction and pelvic pain relief.

The International Adhesions Society was founded and
funded by Synechion, Inc., a research and consulting
company specializing in the field of surgical adhesions
and pelvic pain and based on the internationally recognized
expertise of its founder, Dr. David Wiseman who remarked, “after
conducting research on adhesions and pelvic pain and
working with patients suffering from these conditions
for over 25 years, I feel that for the first time we
have a real chance to revolutionize the management
of pain in these patients without the risks of surgery
or drugs." Added Wiseman, “the results in
the PainShield study were so compelling and the clinical
need so urgent, that forming a company, KevMed, to
fill the needs of this underserved patient population
was the logical next step. We therefore secured the
US distribution and marketing rights to PainShield
for patients with pelvic pain, interstitial cystitis
and related conditions.”

PainShield is a wearable therapeutic ultrasound device,
available by prescription to patients in the United
States and was developed by NanoVibronix of Farmingdale,
New York, based on its proprietary technology which
miniaturizes the ultrasound delivery system to a small
disc mounted within an adhesive patch applied to the
skin. NanoVibronix provided the PainShield units for
the study free of charge

KevMed™ Prepares
to Introduce Novel Device for Pelvic Pain and Interstitial
Cystitis as US Distributor
of PainShield®

KevMed announces that it has been appointed as the
US distributor of the PainShield® device for treatment
of pelvic pain and related conditions by NanoVibronix®,
a company that develops innovative medical products
based on its proprietary miniaturised ultrasound technology.
PainShield is a wearable device that delivers low frequency,
therapeutic ultrasound for the treatment of pain associated
with a number of pelvic and abdominal conditions including
interstitial cystitis, irritable bowel syndrome and
chronic pelvic pain.

Dallas, TX (PRWEB) October 16, 2012

NanoVibronix®, Inc., a medical device company,
which develops innovative therapeutic ultrasound products,
has named KevMed™, LLC as its US distributor
for PainShield®, the first hands-free, wearable
therapeutic ultrasound device to treat the over 15
million patients in the USA with pelvic pain, interstitial
cystitis and related conditions.

With over 25 years of experience in the area of abdominal
adhesions and pelvic pain syndromes, David Wiseman,
PhD, President of KevMed is excited to introduce the
PainShield device to help alleviate pelvic pain in
patients with chronic and difficult to treat symptoms. "In
a clinical study, we found the PainShield ultrasound
therapy to dramatically reduce pain in CAPPS
(Complex Abdominal and Pelvic Pain Syndrome) patients. An abstract
with clinical data reflecting this positive finding
was accepted for presentation at the upcoming meeting
of the International Pelvic Pain Society (IPPS) 2012
in Chicago," says Wiseman. "I feel that for
the first time, we have a real chance to revolutionize
the management of pain in these patients without the
risks of surgery or drugs."

According to Amir Rippel, VP Marketing at NanoVibronix, "our
relationship with KevMed will allow us to reach many
patients suffering from pain due to various pelvic
pain syndromes. PainShield can help pelvic pain patients
overcome their daily suffering and return to a more
normal life." Rippel adds, "following our
ongoing success in relieving pain for patients with
trigeminal neuralgia, an extremely painful neurological
facial syndrome, we believe we can reduce the suffering
and improve quality of life for many other patients
with specific, but difficult to treat pain."

PainShield is the first hands-free, low-frequency
therapeutic ultrasound device that delivers therapy
via a self-adhering patch. The portable design allows
for an entirely new dimension in ultrasound treatment
of pain and soft tissue healing. PainShield consists
of a disposable patch connected to a portable reusable
driver and transmits ultrasound waves to the desired
area of the body. Patients can use PainShield in the
clinical setting, at home, at work, and even while
they sleep. The hassle-free, user-friendly application
of the device dramatically improves patient compliance
and access to treatment. PainShield is cleared by the
FDA for treatment of pain and carries the CE Mark.

Over 15 million patients in the US suffer from a number
of overlapping disorders that include pelvic pain,
abdominal pain, Adhesion Related Disorder (ARD), bowel
obstruction, endometriosis, interstitial cystitis (IC),
painful bladder syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome
(IBS), vulvodynia, dyspareunia (painful intercourse),
dyschezia (painful defecation), adhesions, sacroiliac
joint pain, pudendal neuralgia and pelvic floor dysfunction.
Numerous patients undergo hysterectomy in an effort
to alleviate their pain, only to discover that the
procedure worsens their condition. In extreme cases,
patients will also report fibromyalgia, temporomandibular
joint (TMJ) disorders (TMD) and reflex sympathetic
dystrophy (RSD) or complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS).
Collectively, these conditions have been termed CAPPS
(Complex Abdominal and Pelvic Pain Syndrome). PainShield
is designed to help relieve the pain associated with
these conditions.

About KevMed KevMed, LLC was born from the work of the International
Adhesions Society (IAS), which provides information,
support, and advocacy to patients and their families
suffering from Adhesion Related Disorder (ARD) and
Complex Abdominal and Pelvic Pain Syndrome (CAPPS).
The International Adhesions Society (IAS) was founded
by Synechion, Inc. in 1996 in response to demand
by pelvic pain patients seeking answers in a field
that remains poorly understood by many patients and
clinicians. Synechion, Inc. is a consulting company
specializing in the science and business of adhesions,
founded by David Wiseman, PhD, MRPharmS, internationally
recognized expert who has been making important product
and scientific contributions to the field since 1987.
Research by the International Adhesions Society (IAS)
has revealed new understandings of Adhesion Related
Disorder (ARD) and related conditions from the perspective
of the patient, resulting in the identification of
PainShield® as an effective treatment for pelvic
pain.

Contact:
Dr. David Wiseman, President
KevMed™, LLC
15305 Dallas Parkway, Suite 300, Addison, TX 75001
972 931 5596
david.wiseman(at)kevmed(dot)com
http://www.kevmed.com
About NanoVibronix®
Located in Farmingdale, New York, with a subsidiary
in Nesher, Israel, NanoVibronix® develops medical
devices that utilize its proprietary therapeutic ultrasound
technology. In addition to the PainShield® product
for pain, the company is expanding its portable, therapeutic
platform to the WoundShield® device - targeting
expedited healing of chronic and acute wounds. NanoVibronix
has also developed and markets the UroShield® catheter-based,
disposable ultrasound, intended to reduce pain and
discomfort and help prevent UTI in indwelling urinary
catheters.

Synechion, Inc., a research and consulting company
specializing in the prevention of adhesions - internal
scars causing pain and other complications - has
announced the formation of a new company, KevMed,
LLC to commercialize
break-through innovations for the treatment of chronic
pelvic pain and related disorders. Over 15 million
patients in the U.S. suffer from chronic pelvic pain
with very few effective treatment options currently
available

KevMed brings hope to 15 million pelvic pain sufferers.

Dallas, TX, (PRWEB) October 10, 2012
Synechion Inc., a research and consulting company
specializing in the field of surgical adhesion (internal
scar tissue) prevention, has announced the formation
of KevMed, LLC. KevMed will commercialize new technologies for the treatment
of chronic pelvic pain and related disorders. Over 15 million patients in the
U.S. suffer from chronic pelvic pain for which very few effective treatment
options
are available. KevMed’s technology will provide safe and non-invasive pain
therapy for these patients.

Research conducted by Synechion through its patient
support and advocacy organization, the International
Adhesions Society (IAS), has revealed that vast
numbers of
primarily female patients, debilitated by chronic pelvic and abdominal pain,
are poorly served by current medical approaches.
According to David Wiseman, PhD, Founder and President of KevMed, “The
founding of KevMed is a natural extension of our work spanning more than two
decades, which has helped to make valuable contributions to the field of surgical
adhesions. Not only have we played a pivotal role in the development of a number
of anti-adhesions products, but our work with the International Adhesions Society
(IAS) led to the founding of the world’s first dedicated clinic for the
treatment of adhesions and Complex Abdominal and Pelvic Pain Syndrome (CAPPS).
Our ground-breaking research has allowed us to better understand the needs of
the adhesions and chronic pelvic pain patient. To serve these unmet needs, we
have established KevMed.”

Adds Wiseman, “Patients suffering from chronic pelvic pain require an integrated
treatment approach from a multi-disciplinary clinical team. Companies like KevMed,
with a strong understanding of these patients’ needs, can support the multi-disciplinary
approach with innovative, patient-centric technology. Our track record in research
and patient service places KevMed in a unique position to serve patients with
chronic pelvic pain.”

Synechion, Inc. is a consulting company specializing
in the science and business of post-operative adhesions,
founded by David Wiseman, PhD, MRPharmS, internationally
recognized expert who has been making important product and scientific contributions
to the field since 1987. The International
Adhesions Society (IAS) was founded
by Synechion, Inc. in 1996 in response to demand by pelvic pain patients seeking
answers in a field that remains poorly understood by many patients and clinicians.

Even if you are not a veteran, you should use this
form as a template for documenting your adhesion-related
disability.

VA recognizes disability due to adhesions.
Issued apparently in February 2011 is VA FORM 21-0960G-6
-

" PERITONEAL ADHESIONS DISABILITY BENEFITS QUESTIONNAIRE"

The
form guides the applicant in documenting the various
ways they are impacted by adhesions including pain,
obstruction, nausea, vomiting and ability to work.

What is most significant about the form is that it
exists. Hopefully it can can used as a template for
non-veterans in documenting their adhesion-related
disability.

Update
on Dr. John Semertzides: Verdict soon to be issued
on termination of privileges to operate for adhesions.

Dr John Semertzides is a general surgeon who, since
about 1991, has been treating patients with severe
problems due to adhesions. A number of IAS members
have visited him and have posted almost all favorable
experiences with Dr. Semertzides both as a caring surgeon
and as one that has helped many.

Following are some leads and tips for finding financial
help for adhesiolysis surgery. Please do your own diligent
research to find the right solution for you.

We are grateful to an adhesion sufferer for researching
and compiling this information.

Hospital Policies
Hospitals have “charity care policies,” and
this article, “Hospitals
Low Key on Charity,” explains how they work
at hospitals. Some hospitals have information on their
websites about their policies, but for others you must
ask the hospital employees for information. The key
words that seem to be the ones to use when inquiring
about eligibility are “charity care program.” The
requirements of hospitals to provide charity care differ
by state, according to this article, “Hospital
Charity Care Requirements,”

If you know what
hospital you want to go to and you have a surgeon
willing to operate, you might want to search online
for their
charity care policy or program, and if that does
not work, ask the hospital staff for help.

International Medical Travel:
Find low-cost adhesiolysis procedures in other countries:

Medical Discounts (800) 771-3325
Laproscopic Adhesiolysis is listed as a $1,950 procedure, on top of travel
expenses. Research this carefully, go over the FAQs with a fine-toothed comb,
ask a lot of questions, and make sure you are comfortable with every detail
before agreeing.

Before agreeing to undergo treatment by any medical professional abroad (or
in the USA for that matter), thoroughly investigate all the risks and benefits
of having the treatment as well the training and experience of the foreign
doctor. In addition to considering treatment’s safety, a patient should
evaluate the qualifications and experience of the doctor and account for differences
between training and standards of doctors in those other countries and those
in the USA.

Surgeons donating surgeries:
Some organizations are available in some areas to provide procedures to people
with low-incomes. If one of these is not near you, search for “low income
surgery” and include your city/state name. Sometimes it is one surgeon
who is offering a free surgery day once a year. Sometimes it is an organization
that can offer help more often. It is unknown whether these organizations can
provide adhesiolysis.

Tips:
Call hospitals and ask for their “charity care policy” and how
to be considered for their “charity care program.”

When calling organizations, you will want to use key words like “general
surgery,” “minimally-invasive laproscopic surgery” and “adhesiolysis” or “adhesions
causing… (whatever your symptoms are).” Find a surgeon who is willing to operate first, and then work through the hospital’s
charity care program. Remember that health centers/surgeon offices may bill
separately from the hospital. Make sure you ask at the office and the hospital
about consideration for low-income patients.

This summary was put together by a fellow adhesion-sufferer who is not a doctor
or a financial assistance professional. Please be your own advocate, and do
your own diligent research. If you do not see something here that helps you
in your area, use the search terms listed to find assistance locally.

After a request to post a message from our old friend
Annie Hayashi regarding SprayShield, we decided to
provide an update on the status of SprayShield, its
FDA approval, a new clinical trial, background information
about SprayShield’s development and the rumors
that have been circulating about these matters. For
the update please see here.

IAS
Announces New Opportunity to Participate in a Follow-up
Patient Survey

Be part of our research effort by participating in
our latest survey on information given to patients
about adhesions prior to surgery.

This is to update our earlier survey 10 years ago
and to track how things have changed for patients since
then. Your participation is vital. Our last results
were published in the medical literature, presented
at international conferences and was widely quoted
by doctors and scientists - a great tribute to our
efforts and a measure of the impact of the International
Adhesions Society - a true grassroots effort.

Even if you did not participate before, you can do
so now. It will take 5-10 minutes. Click
here to take the survey or paste this url into
your browser:

The IAS is experimenting with Facebook and Twitter
to see how these social media platforms can best
serve our audiences and accomplish our mission to:

* Provide information on ARD, its treatment and
prevention, to patients, doctors and other professionals.

* Provide support to patients suffering from ARD.

* Promote research in the prevention and treatment
of ARD.

* Serve as a forum for public education; to raise
the level of awareness among doctors, healthcare
providers, government, and the public at large to
prompt a more comprehensive and integrated care for
adhesions sufferers.

What sort of content do you want to see?

How should we use FB and Twitter? Are there different
types of content you want to see on each? Please
let us know! Contact us by:

The IAS regrets to announce the death of IAS medical
advisory board member Lena E. Holmdahl., MD, PhD at
the age of 57 on December 24, 2011 at her home in Grafton,
MA after a brave battle with brain cancer for 28 months.

Lena was a great friend of the IAS and participated
in our symposium held in 2001. Lena was born in Lerum,
Sweden and graduated from the University of Gothenburg
in Sweden where she earned her MD and PhD. She practiced
colo-rectal surgery in Sweden for almost twenty years,
and conducted important experimental and clinical research
in adhesions earning her the respect of colleagues
internationally and recognition as one of the world’s
experts on adhesions.

Lena continued to sponsor a laboratory at the University
of Gothenburg and mentor PhD students even after her
2001 move to Genzyme Corporation in Cambridge, Massachusetts
where she headed the Therapeutic Group of the Bio-Surgery
Division.

Her later work at Genzyme focused on the development
and use of Seprafilm. A selection of over 50 scientific
articles authored by Lena can
be found here, in addition
to the many book chapters and presentations at medical
and scientific conferences.

A summary of Lena’s presentation at our 2001
meeting can be found in our 2001
newsletter and her
lecture on "Advances in the Understanding of Adhesions" can
be found within our conference tapes.

The world’s knowledge about adhesions and why
they form is all the more advanced because of Dr. Lena
Holmdahl. We send our condolences to her family and
many friends.

David Wiseman

Newscast: Treating Painful
Adhesions after Surgery

Watch the local ABC-affiliate in the San Francisco
Bay area of California (USA) for a segment on "Treating
Painful Adhesions after Surgery". The IAS also
has a link from this page!

Groundbreaking patient research by the IAS presented
at the PAX Congres in Amsterdam on 12 April.

In December 2002, the IAS sent out requests for participation
in our Informed Consent and Bowel Obstruction surveys.
These surveys represented groundbreaking research into
the area of adhesions and further our efforts to create
awareness for Adhesions and ARD.

Your information was compiled between December 2002
- March 2003 and the results submitted in abstract form
for acceptance at the PAX
Congres in Amsterdam earlier this month.

Our research has revealed a number of important findings
that we hope will advance the treatment and prevention
of ARD. Read the full results.
The highlights are:

48% of patients are unable to work, and 46% of
these could not obtain benefits.

32% of those who tried physical or massage therapy
reported a benefit.

With regard to the information given to patients prior
to surgery:

Information about adhesions was given to patients
in 54% of adhesiolysis procedures, but in only 10%
of other abdominal or pelvic procedures

In procedures not involving cutting of adhesions,
patients were told of adhesion barriers in only 6%
of cases

Do Men Get Adhesions?
an informative look by David Wiseman PhD, MRPharmS,
Founder, International Adhesions Society

It is a common myth that only women are prone to adhesions.
While it is certainly true that women have more “internal
parts” that require surgery, which inevitably
leads to adhesions, men are not excluded from the problem
of adhesions. A simple look at the national statistics
collected from hospital discharges (ICD9 codes) from
the most recent data available (2001-2005) reveals
the following:

Over 50,000 men were discharged from hospital in
2005 with a diagnosis of peritoneal adhesions (568.0),
accounting for 28% of such diagnoses, compared with
72% for women.

Over 37,000 men were discharged in 2005 with a
diagnosis that included the specific diagnosis of
intestinal adhesions with (ie causing) bowel obstruction
(560.81). This number accounts for 38% of cases,
compared with 62% for women.

Men also accounted for 37% of discharges with
a principal diagnosis (as opposed to an incidental
diagnosis) was intestinal adhesions with obstruction
(560.81). Their length of stay was slightly higher
than that of women in 3 of the five years studied
and their hospital charges exceeded those of women
in every year by as much as $2500.

Over 2000 men and women died every year with a
diagnosis of intestinal adhesions with obstruction,
representing about 3% of the total discharges with
that diagnosis. The contribution of males to this
death rate was in every year slightly higher than
that of women in proportion to their discharges,
by 10-15% in the years 2002-2005, and about 2% in
2001.

Dr. Kemel Kismet and his colleagues from Ankara Turkey
have found that eating honey or pollen may reduce the
severity of adhesions. After surgery rats were fed
honey and/or pollen. 21 days later adhesion scores
were reduced, with no dense adhesions found in the
rats given honey or pollen. The researchers speculate
that the honey and pollen may have anti-inflammatory
and anti-oxidant properties that could help to reduce
adhesions.